Apparatus for facilitating acquisition of a scan and intraoral scanning procedures

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to scan gauges, a kit of scan gauges, and methods for facilitating the acquisition of a scan during an intraoral scanning procedure using an intraoral scanner, including: an elongate body having an attachment portion configured to attach the elongate body with an implant in a patient's mouth, the implant having a longitudinal axis, whereby the elongate body is adapted to extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the implant when mounted to the implant; the elongate body having a substantially planar upper surface and one or more side walls extending downwardly away from the upper surface; wherein the upper surface and the one or more side walls are observable in a resulting scan when the intraoral scanner scans the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A scan gauge for facilitating acquisition of a scan during an intraoral scanning procedure in a patient's mouth, comprising:
 an elongate body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of side walls extending between peripheral edges of the upper surface and peripheral edges of the lower surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of side walls slope outwardly from the upper surface to the lower surface of the elongate body so that the upper surface and the one or more sloped side walls are observable in an intraoral scan when the scan gauge is scanned from substantially above and perpendicular to the upper surface; and 
 an attachment portion arranged on a lower surface of the elongate body, whereby the elongate body extends substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the attachment portion, and is configured to receive a fastening element to attach the elongate body to an implant or to an intermediate component in the patient's mouth, 
 wherein one or more of the plurality of side walls include at least one cut-out portion configured to enable an intraoral scanner to retrieve data from a surface of the attachment portion when the scan gauge is scanned from substantially above and perpendicular to the upper surface of the elongate body, and 
 wherein the elongate body comprises one or more identifier markings on the upper surface of the elongate body or on one or more of the sloped side walls, or on both the upper surface and on one or more of the sloped side walls, wherein the identifier markings are arranged to be observable in an intraoral scan when the scan gauge is scanned from substantially above and perpendicular to the upper surface of the elongate body to provide dimensional information, tolerance information, or both dimensional and tolerance information for the elongate body. 
 
     
     
       2. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cut-out portion extends towards the attachment portion, thereby enabling intraoral scanning of a surface of the attachment portion when the scan gauge is scanned from substantially above and perpendicular to the upper surface of the elongate body. 
     
     
       3. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion comprises a bore that is complementarily shaped to fit a male connection portion of an implant or intermediate adapter. 
     
     
       4. The scan gauge of  claim 3 , wherein the male connection portion comprises a cylindrical cap that fits into the bore. 
     
     
       5. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening element comprises a prosthetic screw. 
     
     
       6. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sloped side walls surround all or a substantial portion of the peripheral edge of the upper surface, and wherein all of the one or more sloped side walls are observable in an intraoral scan when the scan gauge is scanned from substantially above and perpendicular to the upper surface of the elongate body. 
     
     
       7. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , wherein the sloped side walls are inclined from a direction perpendicular to the upper surface by an angle between about 15° and about 40°. 
     
     
       8. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more sloped side walls is substantially planar. 
     
     
       9. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sloped side walls define a plurality of interconnected facets, wherein each facet is observable by the intraoral scanner when scanning in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the elongate body. 
     
     
       10. The scan gauge of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate body includes a first end and a second end, and wherein each of the first end and the second end comprises a pointed end, wherein each pointed end is defined by two meeting facets. 
     
     
       11. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more identifier markings comprise any one or more of a projection, a recess, or a scannable medium, wherein the identifier markings convey information about the scan gauge. 
     
     
       12. The scan gauge of  claim 10 , wherein the information comprises any one or more of height, length, width, or dimensional tolerance. 
     
     
       13. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , further comprising a fiducial marker mounted to or integral with the upper surface of the elongate body. 
     
     
       14. The scan gauge of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the elongate body includes an aperture or recess configured to receive an indicator element that is identifiable during an intraoral scan.